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Review

Foxdenton Damson Gin

Distillery

Website

History

Estate of Foxdenton based in Lancashire,
which had been in the family since 1367. In 1923 the Foxdenton Estate was
leased to the local council who permitted public access to the grounds. In 1960
the house itself was sold to the local council and is now a tourist attraction.
The business was taken over by his son Alexander Radclyffe and in 2001 his son the
present owner, Nicholas Radclyffe, inherited the family business.

With a love of shooting and drinking, Nick
thought the fruit liqueurs too sweet whilst at shooting events and wondered if
he could produce his own. Making them at home he turned up at shooting days
with his and found people really liked them. This spurred him on and he set up
a small-scale production of these fruit liqueurs, using Gin as the base spirit,
all made to traditional English recipes. Today they even have their own Gin,
Foxdenton 48, sold by it self but also used as the base for their fruit
liqueurs.

Their Gins are made by
Thames Distillers, run by Charles Maxwell who is the 8th generation
of the family (founders of the Finsbury Distillery) who have been producing Gin
since 1700 – making them the oldest unbroken lineage in Gin distillation.

Production

Made from Damsons grown in Herefordshire, the
fruit is steeped in Foxdenton Gin, with a little sugar, for 3 months before
being filtered and bottled. Small quantities are produced seasonally and thus
it may not always be readily available.

Foxdenton introduced a new look for their
spirits in early 2013. The old traditional style whisky bottles were replaced
with clear squat cylindrical bottles, the same as used for Hayman’s Family
Reserve Gin. The label is a large white one with black and burgundy colored
writing and line images, including their logo (a bull and crown) and Foxdenton
Hall. The Gin is a vibrant red in color.

Category

Flavored Gin – Damson.

Alcohol By Volume (ABV)

18.5% (37 Proof).

Price Range

$$$ - $$$$. Not available in the USA. Try Master of Malt in the UK and expect
to pay an additional 65% for shipping.

Botanicals

Name

Named after the family’s ancestral home, the
Foxdenton Estate, and the key botanical flavor.

Tasting Notes

On the nose is plum (damson) and light earthy
juniper (Gin). On the palate is a strongly tart plum and prune fruit flavor,
which develops to taste more like sweet cherry plus hints of juniper (Gin),
spice and pepper with a faint almond note. The cherry-like fruitiness and hints
of juniper continue into the close with a long astringent and spicy finish.
This is a richly fruity and well-balanced Gin.

This can be drunk neat as a winter warmer
or made into a long cool refreshing drink by adding to soda water, tonic water,
lemonade or sparkling white wine (like a Kir). Adding it to champagne (like a
Kir Royale) makes a Damson Fizz or as Foxdenton call it, a Damn Shame cocktail.
Although not tried by ourselves yet, we understand it can be used to good
effect in fruit puddings.

We like Damson Gin, usually more so than
Sloe Gin. This one proves no different and it has a depth of character that
even outshines many other Damson Gins. This is our joint number one choice for Damson (shared with Bramley
& Gage Damson Gin) and therefore highly recommend it.